The prevalence of pancreatic cancer is higher than that of most other cancers. While the five-year survival rate for patients with pancreas cancer is 92 percent, the disease still kills more people than lung and colon cancer combined. However, survival rates are improving and it is still estimated that pancreas cancer will become the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. by 2050. It is essential to seek appropriate treatment and diagnosis early for a better chance of survival.
When a tumor blocks the bile duct, a person may exhibit a yellowish discoloration of the skin and eyes. When a tumor is found outside of the bile duct, however, it is difficult to detect until it is quite large and widespread. A biopsy is recommended in this situation. If this test does not detect the tumor, it is time to make an appointment with a pancreas cancer specialist.
There are many factors that contribute to the development of pancreatic cancer. Several factors can lead to the disease, including smoking and obesity. A family history of pancreatic cancer may increase the risk of developing the disease. Also, the disease is more common among whites than blacks. And while it affects both sexes equally, black men have a greater risk than their white counterparts. Sadly, only a small percentage of people will develop the disease in their lifetime, but the statistics are alarming nonetheless.
Surgery for pancreas cancer is usually associated with a low mortality rate, but that doesn’t mean that it is untreatable. In fact, patients with pancreas cancer that is resectable are at lower risk for recurrence than patients with localized or metastatic disease. If a tumor is recurrent within two years, a person’s chance of survival drops by 50%.
An experienced endocrine surgeon can perform a pancreatic resection without difficulty in 90% of cases. However, the results from such procedures are not reliable. While preoperative tests can be used to guide treatment, they have limited success in identifying the location of pancreatic tumors. Only a highly experienced endocrine surgeon can definitively diagnose the disease. In addition to the pancreatic resection, the surgeon may also perform other diagnostic procedures to help determine the exact location of the cancer.
While chemotherapy is the most common option for pancreas cancer treatment, it is extremely risky and has an extremely low one-year survival rate. Regardless of the treatment, chemotherapy must be weighed against the risks and benefits of the condition. Therefore, it is best to choose chemotherapy only if the patient is in a good enough condition and has not developed a weakened immune system. In addition, a patient’s performance status should be considered in determining whether they should receive chemotherapy.
